A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the board of governors of the university of north carolina for dental schools at the university of north carolina at chapel hill and east carolina UNIVERSITY.
Whereas, there is a growing need for additional dentists in North Carolina; and
Whereas, NC ranks 47th in the nation in dentists per capita; and
Whereas, only seven out of 100 counties in North Carolina meet or exceed the national average of dentists per capita; and 
Whereas, four counties, all in eastern North Carolina, have no dentist; and
Whereas, 33 counties saw a decline in dentists per capita from 1996 to 2005; and 
Whereas, dental caries remains the leading disease in children; and
Whereas, in response to the growing need for additional dentists in the State, East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill jointly developed the Joint Plan for Dentistry under the direction of President Bowles and UNC General Administration; and
Whereas, the Joint Plan endorses the expansion of the size of the dental school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and endorses the development of a new dental school at East Carolina University and fourth‑year educational service learning sites located in underserved areas of the State; and 
Whereas, the Joint Plan is designed to draw on the strengths and missions of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University; and
Whereas, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina unanimously approved the Joint Plan for Dentistry to serve the needs of the citizens throughout the State by providing dental education and dental outreach; and
Whereas, the Board of Governors is recommending the General Assembly provide funds to implement the Joint Plan; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of forty‑three million five hundred thousand dollars ($43,500,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of forty‑three million five hundred thousand dollars ($43,500,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to construct a dental school building on the Health Sciences Campus at East Carolina University and associated fourth‑year educational service learning sites throughout the region and State.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of forty-four million nine hundred forty thousand dollars ($44,940,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of fifty-one million sixty thousand dollars ($51,060,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to construct a building for the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) for the 2008-2009 fiscal year to operate the School of Dentistry at East Carolina University as part of the Joint Plan for dental education and dental outreach in North Carolina.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.